Page 77 of Betrayal In Calusa Cove
Behind Julie, Bingo’s hands flexed. Barely noticeable, but Fletcher caught it. He also caught Bingo’s eye movement. Quick, sharp. The kid was up to something.
Then, he showed a couple of fingers. Damn. He’d worked through part of the bindings. Good kid.
“Ken’s accounts were already turned over to the authorities. That’s out of our hands, even if we gave you the paperwork, if you tried to funnel money out—without Baily, they’d find you,” Fletcher added. “You kill us, and they’ll know it was you who did. We don’t have any other enemies. So, if you want any hope of scraping together your little empire again, you’re going to need someone alive to trade for. Someone who has the legal authority to touch those funds.”
“That’s why she’s going to sign it all over.” Julie smiled.
“Over my dead body,” Fletcher said.
Valenia narrowed her eyes. “You’re bluffing.”
“I’m not, but you’re welcome to test me.” Fletcher held Valenia’s gaze.
There was a flicker of doubt in her face. Bingo shifted again. Almost free.
Outside, a creak sounded. A shadow moved across the porch. Fletcher didn’t look. Didn’t need to. Dawson. Hayes. Keaton. He could feel it like the storm rolling in off the Glades.
Bingo made his move.
With a grunt, he lunged sideways, knocking Julie off balance. The gun fired—once—into the ceiling. Fletcher dove left as Dawson kicked the door in, followed by Keaton and Hayes with their weapons drawn.
“Down!” Hayes shouted.
Chaos.
Fletcher tackled Damen. The man threw a punch, but Fletcher absorbed it and drove his shoulder into Damen’s gut, taking him down hard.
Keaton wrestled Valenia to the floor.
Baily dropped behind the island, yelling Bingo’s name.
Julie scrambled for the gun, but Bingo kicked it across the tile.
Logan Sarich came through the back door next, followed by Dylan, both armed and furious.
It was over in less than thirty seconds, but it felt like forever.
Julie was pinned, screaming. Damen coughed up blood. Valenia—unconscious.
Fletcher turned to Bingo—blood ran down the kid’s face. “You good?” he asked.
Bingo nodded. “Better now.”
Fletcher turned and saw Baily rushing toward them.
They met in the center of the chaos, clinging to each other.
“We’re okay,” Fletcher whispered into her hair. “We’re okay.”
Baily held him so tightly he thought he might suffocate, but he didn’t care. He wrapped his arms around her, crushing her to his chest as she cried.
“It’s okay. Everything’s okay.” He glanced over his shoulder as Remy stormed into the house, a little late to the party. Chloe and her old partner, Buddy, were next, followed by a couple of EMTs.
Miranda Rights were read. Cuffs were slapped on wrists, the metallic click piercing the stillness.
He guided Baily outside and down toward the dock, her body limping along next to him. “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so,” she managed through mangled sobs.
